These kids are on fire

In just one month, Gulf Shores will welcome a vibrant friendship of festival-goers to Hangout Fest 2015 (May 15-17). This year, the crowd will have the chance to be scorched by the music of Firekid, who has become a staple on the Southeastern scene with regular performances at notable venues such as Proud Larry’s (Oxford, Mississippi), 40 Watt Club (Athens, Georgia), The Earl (Atlanta) and Hal & Mal’s (Jackson, Mississippi). Now, Firekid will bring their Southern fried sounds to the Alabama Gulf Coast for a set of versatile music.

If you’re looking to escape the pageantry of bigger bands, check out the stripped-down performance of Firekid.

Hailing from Alabama’s music capital of Muscle Shoals, Firekid’s sound is a perfectly crafted mélange of alternative country, Southern rock, singer-songwriter and good old fashioned rock ‘n’ roll. The group’s music has something that will appeal to most tastes and can be experienced in their latest single “Magic Mountain.” Pounding drums are laced with acoustic strums and precise banjo picking. Typically, Firekid keeps it minimal by featuring just a guitar and drums.

Tickets for the festival and the Thursday night pre-party are on sale now at the Hangout Fest website, and VIP and travel packages are still available. While the pre-party is a separate, ticketed event for those with general admission passes, this event is included with VIP passes.

About The Author

With the exception of two years spent at Auburn University, Steve Centanni has spent his life in Mobile County while focusing on his two passions: music and the written word. As soon as he was issued his driver’s license, Centanni began to explore the local music scene in the early ‘90s.
He filled his weekend with visits classic local venues such as the Four Strong Winds Coffee House, Vincent Van Go-Go’s and Culture Shock, all of which welcomed those who had yet to reach 18. After high school, Centanni traded Mobile for Auburn to complete his B.A. in English with an emphasis on general writing.
While at Auburn, he had the honor of studying under the Pulitzer-winning poet Natasha Trethewey, who served as the nation’s Poet Laureate in 2012 and 2014. After receiving his diploma, Centanni quickly moved back to Mobile and completed the University of South Alabama’s graduate program with a M.Ed. Eventually, he was tapped by the nationally distributed Volume Entertainment Magazine to serve as the magazine’s managing editor/senior writer.
His time with Volume allowed him to exercise his love for both music and writing. As Volume began to fade, Lagniappe recruited Centanni as their Music Writer and later their Music Editor, where he has remained for a little over a decade.
As far as his involvement in the local music scene, Centanni organized Cess Fest at the Langan Park, which was a mini-festival focused on original local music in a time when original local music was veritably taboo in Downtown Mobile. For a short time, he brought original music to Downtown Mobile as the in-house promoter for the now deceased venue Cell Block. He managed local underground powerhouse Fry Cook, until the members parted ways. Centanni has lent his bass to bands such as Keychain Pistol and The F’n A-Holes, and he toured nationally as a member of Abstract Artimus & the Torture Children.
Currently, he provides vocals for the garage blues rock outfit Johnny No. Ultimately, Centanni’s experience in the local music scene as both a participant and an observer has allowed him to witness the ever-changing persona of Mobile’s enigmatic music scene, which continues to leave him with more questions than answers.